Stella Duffy doing this instead of writing …

a plea and a mini cuts rant

So, this play I’m directing, Allen O’Leary’s My Inner Orc – we at Shaky Isles have come up with a novel way for you to be an angel (theatre talk for money-giver), you can help us out by coming along – of course – to the Pleasance where we sold out Skin Tight last year, we run from 13-24th October, but you might also like to help us in a more concrete way – welcome to the Prop Shop!

I’m having a great time making this show. It’s very different to my usual work, a proper old-fashioned ‘well-made’ comedy, with farce and physical comedy and everything. Including a fourth wall. Blimey.) The cast are all lovely, working really hard and coming up with great comedic touches, and I have a feeling that, come October 13th when we open at the Pleasance, we’ll have something very very enjoyable to share with you.

And/or there’s also a fundraiser for the show, insanely cheap tickets (£5), for a good Monday out, 20th September. Book here.

nb – while Allen says in the Prop Shop link that no-one’s getting paid, not least because this is an utterly-unsubsidised* company, I would like to add that the last 2 shows I’ve done with Shaky Isles we’ve worked on a profit-share basis (just like the old days of collectives – hurrah!) and we have actually shared profit. Which, for London, and fringe, and now, is pretty damn impressive.

*NOT that I’m suggesting unsubsidised is the way to go, it’s just that it is – contrary to what Jeremy Hunt appears to believe about making arts in Britain – pretty much the way MOST work is made, at least initially. From first (and second and third) drafts of plays and novels and films, to fringe productions that later storm the touring circuit, to new music, to great works of fine art. All the artists I know are all always making work in our own time and our own way and when we also get paid ‘proper’ money for it we invariably use that money to make more work. Cutting subsidies won’t only attack the work we know is subsidised, it will damage all the other work we all also make.

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2 thoughts on “a plea and a mini cuts rant”

Thank you for taking your time to visit my blog and reply to my post, I was really happy (and a bit shocked, it does not happen that often).

You are definitely right, just because the cover is pink does not mean that it is chick-lit and I can understand that it’s frustrating for you. For me, it’s a bit embarrassing since there’s recently been a big debate on Swedish bookblogs regarding the problem that a large part of the literature written by women are being wrongly labeled as “chick-lit” (or something similar) and I totally agreed. Now – I made the mistake myself, showing my prejudices out in the open! I will do better in the future!

Also, a big thanks for the tips on books, I will make sure to look into them!

hi Emma, I think it’s a very complicated thing really, not least because it can also sound as if, when I say Parallel Lies isn’t chicklit, that I’m disparaging chicklit (and some of my best friends are chicklit writers whose work I hugely enjoy). and of course I’m not at all, what I am saying is that Parallel Lies is crime, it’s possibly gay crime, it’s certainly Holllywood-based crime … but chicklit (as in relationship novel/looking for Mr Right novel/shopping & shagging novel) it isn’t! Pink cover notwithstanding – and hey, why should the chicklit women get all the prettiest covers??!!
and yes, do see if you can find as copy of Tart Noir, if you liked PL, am pretty sure you’ll find plenty of other women in there you like as well!
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